Rope-making machine



(No Modem' 2 sheet-s-sheen 1. E. E. PIERCE.

ROPE MAKING MACHINE.

N. PETERS PhmlrLhhagnpMr. Wnhinginn. D. C.

(No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. E. PIERCE.

' ROPE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 365,094. Patented June 21, 1887.

N. PETERS. mwumgnpm, wmingwn. nc.

ACM

NITE STATES ERASTUS E. PIERCE, OF NEIV BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RoPEMAKINe MAoHiNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,094, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed April 1.5, 1886. Serial No. 198,976. (No model.)

To @ZZ when?, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERAsTUs E. Pinnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Brighton, county of Beaver, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rope-making machines; and the novelty consists in the provision, in a machine ofthe class named, of means for holding the strandcarrying spools firmly in engagement wit-h the devices by which they are operated at points above and below said spools, of means for automaticallymovingsaidspeolsforwardin stepby-step motion in such manner that adjacent spools shall pass and repass each other continuously to impart an interlocking twist to the strands in the finished rope, and of means for increasing or diminishing the speed of the feed mechanism, as desired. These several ends I attain substantially by and in the means and manner hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote similar parts, Figure l represents a central vertical section, partlyin elevation, through a rope-making machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the line m x of Fig. l, showing in a broken plan view the revolving spool-carrying spider and parts of the mechanism below said spider. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sectional views taken on line y y, Fig. 2, showing one of the strand-carrying spools and the means employed to hold it in engagement with the rotating spider and stationary rings, respectively. Fig. 5 represents a perspective View of one of the spool-holding latches detached from the machine. Fig. G represents in perspective a detached detail view of one of the strand-carrying spools, together with the means employed to hold it in position on the machine. Fig. 7 represents in perspective a detached detail sectional view of one of the strand-spool-carrying shafts, its disks and operat-ing-gear..

In carrying out my invention I employ a series (preferably four) of uprights or sup porting-legs, A A', to and by which the several elements comprised in the machine are bolted and supported. I arrange said uprights at equal-spaced distances from each other, as shown.

B designates a spider provided with a hollow center, having bosses b b formed upon its upper and lower surfaces, respectively, to form abearing, B', wherein isjournaled a 1'0- tatable shaft, C, the function of which will be presently explained.

The arms Zr of the spider B are ribbed upon their lower surfaces, as shown, and are at their outer ends secured to or made integral with a ring, B2, having in alignment with said arms b2 its upper surface provided with lugs b3, that are bolted to the uprights A and A', and a projecting annular flange, b", provided upon its inner surface with gear-teeth b, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

D E designate flat rings, each of which is provided upon one surface, at the outer edge thereof, with lugs d e, whereby they are secured by screws, at predetermined distances apart and above the spider I3, to the legs or supports A A', as shown. Each of said rings is provided upon its inner edge with semicireular detents d' e', that operate, in conjunction with spring-latches F F', to hold strand-carrying spools G in stationary positions, as hereinafter described.

H designates a bevel gear-wheel mounted upon the lower end of the shaft, that is engaged and operated by a bevel gear-pinion, H', mounted upon the main or driving shaft I'I'f, which is journaled in bearings 7L, formed therefor in the opposite supports, A, near the lower ends thereof. Motion is imparted to the shaft IIL either by a hand-wheel, II, or pulley II, secu red, respectively, upon opposite ends of sai d shaft. IF designates a loose pulley mounted upon the shaft beside the pulley H".

I designates a coneshaped band-pulley that is mounted upon the shaft I-I" adjacent to one of the uprights A, and connected by a belt, I', with a similar cone-pulley, I2, mounted upon a short counter-shaft, I", that is journaled at one end in a bracket, It, projecting. laterally from one of the uprights A, and at its opposite end in a bearing, i, formed on one of the support-s A', near the lower end thereof. The counter-shaft I3 is provided at one side of the support A' with a bevel gear-wheel, I, that engages with and rotates a similar bevel gearshaft, M', loosely hung in notches m, formed Wheel lI6 mounted upon the lower end of a vertical shaft, I2, journaledin brackets i' i2, -that project from the support'ACv The upper end ofthe shaft I7 is provided with a bevel gear-wheel, l5, similar to the wheel I, that engages a gear-wheel, 16, mounted upon' one end of'the shaft 18, that carries the feed-roll l2, which latter operates in' a slot, Z, formed at or near the middle of a bar, L, which extends from one to the other of the supports A at the tops thereof.

M designates a ropereel mounted'upon a in the upper ends of the supports A', which are extended upwardly for this purpose. The shaft M is provided with a pulley, M2, connected by a cross-belt, 8, with a similar pulley, 9, upon the counter shaft I3, or the main driying-shaft, as described, whereby to rotate the reel M. I provide the upper end of the rotat able shaft C with a spider, G', preferably having four arms, c, (but which may,if desired, be provided with any requisite number,) and secure said spider in position on said shaft by a set-screw, c. I provide each of the arms c, near its outer end, with an aperture, to receive elongated boxesO2, which are provided with laterally-projecting lugs cr ears c3, that bear upon and are secured to the arms c by screws c4.

K designates vertical shafts, which are jour- Vnaled at their lower ends in the boxes O2, and

are provided below said boxes with gearwheels K/, the teeth of which engage the gearteeth formed upon theinner surface of the annular liange bb'y which said'shafts are rotated. I preferably form the portions of the shafts K within the boxesl G2 o f greater diameter than the upper ends thereof, whereby shoulders 7c are formed at the upper ends of said boxes, upon which rest circular disks K2,that are provided upon their peripheries, at spaced disu tances, with semicircular detents 7c, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The bodies of the shafts K immediately above the disks K2 are provided with screw-threads to receive burrs or nuts 7c2,that bear upon theupper surface of the disks K2,to hold them securely in position. I shoulder the upper endsof the shafts K, securing thereto disks K3,having detents 7c3,simi lar to those of the disks K2. Nuts or burrs 7c4 hold the disks in position.

It will be observed that the disks K2 K3 are placed and'operate in the planes of the rings D and E, respectively, that the edges of said disks bear 'against the edges of said rings, and that as said disks are rotated the detents 7c 7c3 therein coincide with the detents t e of said rings D E.

The strand-carrying spools G each consist of a body, g, having an axial bore, g', and pro jeeting flanges g2. Said spools are held and rotate upon verticalshafts g3, that extend between short cylindrical blocks g4 g5, having diameters equal to those of the detents f e and k k3 of the rings D E and disks K2 K3, respect ively, and are alternately held within the desurfaces. rangement of parts permits the free rotation tents of said rings and disks by latches F F', which are pivoted within boxes F2, secured to said Arings D- and E, and disks K2 K3 near the detents therein. Each of said latches F ,FZ is provided near its free end, upon one surface, with cutfaway portions ff',- whereby a projecting stud, f2, is formed, that engages with a cup-shaped recess formed in block g4 or g5 of the strand-spools. lIpreferably bevel the side edges of the latches F F near their outer ends, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. l

F3 designates springs placed below the latches within the boxes F2, that normally hold said latches in planes parallelwith the rings D E `and disks K2 K3.

By reference to the drawlngs it will be observed that the ring D and lower disks, K2, are provided with latches upon their lower surfaces, while the corresponding upper ring, E, and disks K3 have latches upon their upper It will be understood that this arof the several strand-carrying spools, while insuring that said spools be securely held in proper position.

-While I have shown the latches placed upon imaginary radial lines thatextend through the detents of the rings DE and disks K2 K3, respectively, I yet do not wish to confine myself to this exact arrangement of said parts,inasmuch as said latches may be arranged at an angle to said imaginary lines and -properly fulfill their function.

In Fig. 1,at the right, I have shown the spools one end of the F Fas- ICO G removed from their carrying-disks for the purpose of exposing parts otherwise hidden. Theoperation of -my improvement is as folllows The spools Gr are first filled with strands and placed upon their axial shafts g3, the ends of which are connected to the upper and lower blocks, g g5, respectively, and said blocks placed in proper position in the detents of one or the other of the rings or disks, as shown in Fig. 2. Motion is now imparted to the rotating spider C', carrying forward the shafts K, which are by the engagement of their gearwheels K with the teeth of the spider B rotated, thereby causing the disks K2 K3 to alternately withdraw and deposit a'spool from and in the detents of the krings D E-as, for instance, the forward rotation Vof the disk 4, Fig. 2, will withdraw thespool Sfromthe rings D E, deposit the spool l in the next succeeding detent 5 and withdraw the spool 6 deposited by the preceding disks, continue in like manner to withdraw and deposit alternate spools` from and in the detents of said rings Y D and E, the latches F F operating to alternately engage and release said spools. It will be observed that the spools are successively carried to new positions on the rings D E, that thereby an interlocking twist is imparted to the cord. v

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4t' the position of said latches F F at the moment of the en- TIC gagement or release of a spool thereby will be apparent. The first named, Fig. 3, represents a spool held in engagement with the disksfby a latch, F, thereon having passed above the latch F of the rings, and thereby pressed said latch down below thatfirst named and out of engagement with the spool. In Fig. 4 the spool is shown as held within one of the detents of the-rings D E, the latches F thereon above the latches F of the disks. It will be understood that the ends of latches opposite empty detents of either ot' the rings or.

disks will pass above the ends of latches holding spools in position, the inclined upper surfaces of said latches facilitating such operation.

An y desired means may be employed io maintain tension of the strands while the machine is in operation.

Vthout limiting` myself to the exact construction described herein, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The coinbination,with the spool-supporting rings and spoolcarrying devices of a ropemaking machine, of a series of locking-latches secured in fixed positions to hold the spoolshafts against the rings, anda second series of latches mounted upon the spool-carriers in position to engage the fixed latches, and also the spool-shafts, to loek the latter to the carriers, substantially as described.

2. In a rope-making machine, a support, rings secured thereto and provided with detents, and locking latches, in combination with rotatable disks and disk-carrying shafts and driving-gear, said disks having peripheral detents and provided with locking-latches, substantially as described.

23. In a rope-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, rings secured thereto and provided with detents, and locking-latches pivoted to said rings, with strandspool-carrying disks, disk carrying shafts,and driving-geartherefor, said disks having detents and locking-latches pivoted to said disks and adapted to engagestrand-carryingspools, with axial shafts having recesses to receive said latches, substantially as described.

4. In a rope-machine, a supporting-frame, a stationary spider having an annular geared iiange integral therewith and an apertured center, a rotatable shaft, C, journaled in said spider and provided at its opposite ends, respectivel y, with a rotatable spider, C', and bevel-gear H, drivingshaft H2, and bevel-pin` ion H, shafts K, journaled in said rotatable spider and provided with gear-wheels K, and disks Iii K, having peripheral detents 737.2, in

combination with strand-carrying spools G and spring-pressed latchesF and F, and rings D and E, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a rope-making machine, rings D E, having detents land spring-pressed latches -F, rotatable disks K2 K, having peripheral detents and spring-pressed latches F, in combination with a support, a stationary spider, a shaft journaled therein, a rotatable spider secured to said shaft, shafts K, journaled in said rotatable spider, and provided with gearwheels K', said gear-wheels anda geared flange secu red to said support to rotate the shafts and disks carried thereby, to bring said latches F F successively into engagement with strandcarrying spools, substantially as described.

(3. In arope-machine, aseries oflatehes,Fand F, having upward grojeetionsf2 and cutaway portionsff, boxes F2, and springs F?, in combination with disks K K, rings D and E, straudcarrying spools having removable blocks g" g5, provided with c up shaped recesses to receive said latches, rotatable spider C', shaftsK, journaled therein, gear-wheels I,secured to said shafts, and stationary geared flange L* to move said spools in forward direetion, substantially as described.

7. In a rope-machine, a main driving-shaft having power-wheels I-I' II and cone-shaped speed-changing pulley I, in combination with counter-shaft I. having cone-shaped pulley IL and belt I, bevel gear-wheel I5 to engage bevel-gear I of the teed-roll-operating shaft Il, said gear I, shaft Il, and bevel-gears l5 and 16, feed-roll I", and a series of strand-carrying spools, and mechanism,l substantially as described, for imparting motion to said spools, as and for the purpose specified.

S. In a rope-machine, supports A A', stationary spider I3, attached thereto and provided with a geared flange, bt, and an apertured center, a vertical rotatable shaft, C, having bevel gear-wheel II, bevel gear-wheel II', spider C, having rotatable shafts K, provided with disks having detents and gear-wheels K, spools G, and latches F, in combination with stationary rings, as D E, having detents d cf, and the main operatiugshaft Il, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERASTUS E. PIERCE.

NVit-nesses:

W. C. DUvxLL, A. E. F. HANsMANN. 

